Akamai vs Azure CDN: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will compare and highlight the key differences between Akamai and Azure CDN, two popular content delivery network (CDN) solutions.

1. Scalability: Akamai has a large and established network with servers spread across various locations around the world, providing excellent scalability. It offers extensive coverage and is capable of handling massive amounts of traffic efficiently. On the other hand, Azure CDN leverages the global infrastructure of Microsoft Azure, ensuring high scalability and availability for content delivery.

2. Network Customization: Akamai allows more extensive network customization options, allowing users to easily configure load balancing, caching rules, and content delivery policies. It offers fine-grained control over CDN operations. In comparison, Azure CDN focuses on simplicity and ease of use, providing a more user-friendly interface with pre-configured settings and simplified management.

3. Integration with Cloud Services: Azure CDN seamlessly integrates with other services offered by Microsoft Azure such as Azure Storage, Azure App Service, and Azure Media Services, enabling a smoother and more integrated cloud experience. Akamai, on the other hand, offers various integration options and APIs but may require additional configuration and setup.

4. Security and DDoS Protection: Akamai has a strong focus on security and provides advanced features to protect against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and other security threats. It offers a range of security solutions and tools to safeguard content and infrastructure. Azure CDN also provides security features, including SSL/TLS encryption, but may not offer the same level of advanced security capabilities as Akamai.

5. Price and Cost Optimization: Akamai is generally considered to be a more expensive solution compared to Azure CDN. The pricing model of Akamai is based on various factors such as bandwidth usage, storage, and additional services. Azure CDN offers more flexible pricing options, including pay-as-you-go and reserved instances, allowing for better cost optimization and scalability.

6. Ecosystem and Support: Akamai has been in the CDN market for a longer period and has a well-established ecosystem. It offers comprehensive documentation, support, and professional services. Azure CDN benefits from being part of the larger Microsoft ecosystem, which includes a vast range of cloud services, support channels, and community resources.

In Summary, Akamai and Azure CDN differ in terms of scalability, network customization, integration with cloud services, security, pricing, and ecosystem/support.